Your initial appointment will last around 15-20 minutes, during which we will ask questions about your accident, how it happened, and the injuries sustained to determine if you have a claim.

This appointment is also your opportunity to ask questions about what to expect during the process and how we will handle your claim. We want you to have no reservations that we are the right San Antonio or McAllen law firm for you, so there is no obligation to move forward, and we will never pressure you to make a decision.

To help you find the right law firm for your needs, we have written a guide containing the top 11 questions you should ask a personal injury attorney in McAllen, San Antonio, Hondo, or elsewhere in Texas, with advice on what to do with the answers you receive.

Most accidents are the result of a combination of factors, so you might be partly responsible for causing your accident. Texas negligence laws allow you to recover compensation as long as you are not more than 50% at fault. Your payout is adjusted accordingly, so if you are 20% liable, you will receive 80% of the compensation award.

Our accident lawyer in McAllen and San Antonio can advise on your entitlement to compensation if you contributed to your accident.

A personal injury claim and a lawsuit are two stages in the legal process for seeking compensation for injuries caused by someone else’s negligence. However, the term “personal injury claim” is often used to refer to both stages, potentially resulting in confusion.

A personal injury claim is the first step in seeking compensation and involves filing a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company. For example, a personal injury claim can secure compensation from a driver’s insurance provider when you sustain injuries in a drunk-driving accident. This stage kicks off a series of negotiations to settle the claim and avoid a lawsuit,

Most claims resolve successfully, resulting in the at-fault party accepting liability and offering an agreeable settlement that compensates you for your losses. However, claims aren’t always successful. The liable party may outright deny fault and refuse to negotiate or offer a fair settlement, or your losses may exceed the insurance coverage held. In this scenario, you might choose to sue.

A lawsuit is a formal complaint filed in civil court. A lawsuit involves multiple stages, including discovery (gathering evidence) and pre-trial motions, so it can be time-consuming, but it can result in a substantial award. The parties usually agree to a settlement in negotiations held throughout and drop the suit. However, if talks fail, the case will go to trial, where a judge or jury will hear evidence and determine whether the defendant is responsible and should pay compensation.

How much compensation you will receive depends on several factors, including the medical treatment you need, how long you cannot work, and how your injuries have impacted your life and might continue to do so.

However, your claim is ultimately worth what an insurance company will offer, or a jury decides to award, so you must have evidence proving your losses and the other party’s fault. 

Your San Antonio and McAllen personal injury lawyer will demand the maximum possible settlement or judgment you deserve.

We can explain how much you might be entitled to based on the details of your accident. You can also use our personal injury settlement calculator to estimate your losses.

There is no average time to resolve a personal injury claim or lawsuit, as every case is unique. Your claim may settle in months if you have strong evidence and the insurance company offers a sum that will cover your past and future expenses.

You can receive a settlement even sooner if you are willing to settle for less, but we strongly advise against this.

In other claims, you may need to wait several months or over a year to determine the severity of your injuries and if they are likely to improve. The process of suing and achieving a judgment in court can take several years.

You do not pay anything until we win your case. We promise you will never receive an unexpected or upfront bill. We will also regularly update you on what you can expect to pay once you win your claim, so you will never wonder how much compensation you will have left once you have paid legal fees.